Preform for blow molded syringe for use with injectors

Abstract

A syringe for use in a pressurized injection of a fluid includes a syringe barrel including a polymeric material having undergone expansion via blow molding. A preform for blow molding a blow molded syringe is described, the preform including a proximal end having a retention mechanism adapted to connect to the syringe to a powered injector, a distal end having a syringe outlet section, and a barrel section between the retention mechanism and the syringe outlet section, wherein the barrel section is adapted to be blow molded to form a cylindrical wall of a syringe barrel defined between the retention mechanism and the syringe outlet section.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A preform for a stretch blow molded syringe, the preform comprising:
 a proximal end having a retention mechanism, the retention mechanism adapted to connect the syringe to a powered injector;   a distal end having a syringe outlet section; and   a barrel section between the retention mechanism and the syringe outlet section,   wherein the preform comprises at least one polymeric material, and   wherein the barrel section is adapted to be stretch blow molded to form a cylindrical wall of a syringe barrel defined between the retention mechanism and the syringe outlet section, and   wherein the syringe outlet section in formed during an injection molding process of the preform and is not substantially altered during a stretch blow molding expansion process.   
     
     
         2 . The preform of  claim 1 , wherein the retention mechanism is formed during an injection molding process of the preform. 
     
     
         3 . The preform of  claim 2 , wherein the retention mechanism is not substantially altered during the stretch blow molding expansion process. 
     
     
         4 . The preform of  claim 1 , wherein the syringe outlet section comprises a connector adapted to connect with a complementary connector of a fluid path element. 
     
     
         5 . The preform of  claim 4 , wherein the connector is one of a male luer connector or a female luer connector. 
     
     
         6 . The preform of  claim 4 , wherein the connector comprises an outlet passage. 
     
     
         7 . The preform of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one polymeric material of the preform comprises at least one of polyethylene terephthalate, cyclic olefin polymer, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinylidene chloride, polyethylene naphthalate, or nylon. 
     
     
         8 . The preform of  claim 1 , wherein the preform comprises a first layer of a first polymeric material and at least a second layer of a second polymeric material, wherein the second polymeric material is different from the first polymeric material. 
     
     
         9 . The preform of  claim 1 , further comprising a transition region between the barrel section and the syringe outlet section of the preform, wherein the transition region forms a conical section between the cylindrical side wall and the syringe outlet section of the stretch blow molded syringe. 
     
     
         10 . The preform of  claim 1 , wherein the barrel section is adapted to be stretch blow molded to form the cylindrical wall of the syringe barrel, wherein the cylindrical wall has an inner diameter that is substantially constant. 
     
     
         11 . The preform of  claim 10 , wherein the inner diameter of the cylindrical wall does not vary by greater than 0.01 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The preform of  claim 10 , wherein the cylindrical wall of the syringe barrel is less than 0.07 inches in thickness. 
     
     
         13 . The preform of  claim 1 , wherein the preform is adapted to be biaxially stretched during stretch blow molding. 
     
     
         14 . A preform for a stretch blow molded syringe, the preform comprising:
 a proximal end having a retention mechanism;   a distal end having a syringe outlet section; and   a barrel section between the retention mechanism and the syringe outlet section,   wherein the barrel section is adapted to be stretch blow molded to form a cylindrical wall of a syringe barrel defined between the retention mechanism and the syringe outlet section,   wherein the retention mechanism remains on the syringe after stretch blow molding and is adapted to connect the syringe to a connection mechanism of a powered injector.   
     
     
         15 . The preform of  claim 14 , wherein the barrel section is adapted to be stretch blow molded by biaxial stretching. 
     
     
         16 . A method for stretch blow molding a preform to produce a stretch blow molded syringe, the method comprising:
 providing an injection molded preform comprising:
 a proximal end having a retention mechanism formed during an injection molding process of the preform, the retention mechanism adapted to connect the syringe to a powered injector; 
 a distal end having a syringe outlet section formed during the injection molding process of the preform; and 
 a barrel section between the retention mechanism and the syringe outlet section; and 
   stretch blow molding the preform to provide a stretch blow molded syringe having a biaxially stretched cylindrical side wall between a syringe proximal end comprising the syringe retention mechanism and a syringe distal end comprising the syringe outlet section,   wherein the syringe outlet section and the retention mechanism are not substantially altered during the stretch blow molding step.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein stretch blow molding the preform comprises blowing compressed air into the preform through the syringe outlet section. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the stretch blow molded syringe comprises a rearward, monolithic closure. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the injection molded preform further comprises a transition region between the barrel section and the syringe outlet section, wherein the transition region forms a conical section between the cylindrical side wall and the syringe outlet section of the stretch blow molded syringe.